Why was KSI vs Wayne Bridge canceled? Event scrapped days after announcement

KSI was finally set to return to the boxing ring against a hand-picked opponent in a 44-year-old retired footballer. However, mere days after announcing it, his challenger, Wayne Bridge, backed out of the fight. Here’s why.

British YouTuber KSI last stepped foot in a boxing ring on October 14, 2023 where he was handed his first professional loss at the hands of Tommy Fury. While he was set to headline a unique event in 2024, that ultimately fizzled out and thus, he hasn’t competed since.

Initially, the plan was for KSI to box both Slim and Anthony Taylor in a tag-team handicap match, though an injury got in the way of this event. Now in 2025, he’s finally ready to step back into the spotlight, though what was set to be his return matchup has already fallen through.

After last facing a proper boxer in Tommy Fury, KSI had turned his sights to a former footballer. Mere days after announcing the fight, however, it quickly fell apart. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why was KSI vs Wayne Bridge canceled?

Announcing the fight in the middle of the boxing ring at a Misfits boxing event on January 19, 2025, KSI berated his soon-to-be-opponent Bridge. It’s this trash talk that ultimately led to Bridge pulling out of the fight.

“This felt like a good opportunity to go up against an interesting opponent on a big stage,” Bridge said in a lengthy Instagram post. “I was fully prepared to train hard and have some fun.”

Though given KSI’s comments, Bridge felt the YouTuber “crossed a line,” and it was in his best interests to withdraw.

“These are deeply personal comments that affect mine and other families involved in the situation. I’m a family man first and my priority is protecting them.

“My opponent is someone that many children look up to around the world, including my kids. I hope one day he will look back on this differently. I personally don’t want to be involved in these exchanges.”

KSI is yet to address Bridge’s comments, and thus, no replacement has been announced for the contest at the time of writing. Whether KSI opts to stick to the planned date, just with a different opponent, is yet unclear.

When was the fight set to take place?

KSI vs Wayne Bridge was scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

This would have marked a full 532-day gap between fights for KSI. Meanwhile, Bridge hadn’t fought for a staggering seven years.

Who is Wayne Bridge?

Wayne Bridge is a 44-year-old former professional footballer. Having played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, his career on the pitch spanned two decades with hundreds of games played from the left back position.

While he’s credentialed in the world of soccer, the same can’t be said about his experience in boxing. Not a total novice, Bridge does indeed have one scrap under his belt.

Instagram: waynebridge03

Far from a professional boxer, Bridge has appeared just once in a boxing ring, and it came at a charity event.

Back in 2018, Bridge took on British TV personality Spencer Matthews in a brief contest for the Comic Relief charity. It was a brief affair, with just three two-minute rounds, and he’s not stepped foot back inside a boxing ring in the seven years since.

That’s his full history in the world of combat sports, the 44-year-old having no other amateur let alone professional fights under his belt. So why exactly was he picked to fight KSI in the first place?

Why was KSI fighting Wayne Bridge?

During the announcement on January 19, 2025, KSI immediately sought to make clear how Bridge wasn’t his first choice. An initial opponent fell through, leading KSI to select the former footballer in a last-minute pivot. Well, we’ve now seen how that panned out.

Beyond being a far more manageable tune-up fight, a way to ease him back into the ring, KSI gave a clear reason for wanting to fight Bridge: In preparation for Jake Paul.

“I’ve been putting on weight,” KSI said in an interview backstage. “I’m gonna be fighting [Bridge] at a weight I’ve never fought at before. “A heavier weight because I’m eyeing that Jake Paul fight.”